How long do box turtles live?

Find more fascinating turtle facts in the brand new book TODAY’S DINOSAURS: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO TURTLES, TERRAPINS, AND TORTOISES by Stacey Venzel. (July 2017 / Sherpa Multimedia). Click for more info…

On average, turtles can live to be about 80 years old. Life span varies from species to species, but some of the oldest living animals in history have been turtles or tortoises.

While the oldest testudines tend to be sea turtles that grow up to 2,000 pounds, smaller, pet turtles can live for decades.

“In most cases, many of the aquatic turtle species—including Red-Eared Sliders and Painted Turtles—theoretically can live into their 40s,” Dr. Mark Mitchell, researcher and professor of zoological medicine at the University of Illinois, said to petMD. “They could potentially live longer, but we just don’t have records.”

Map turtles and African Sideneck Turtles are known to live approximately 25 years.

Tortoises are known to live up to 100 years, with many living much longer.

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